CHAPTER SEVEN

Gianna's POV; 

         - Wedding Day -

"How will he react when he sees me?" I asked Laura.

"I don't know. Just relax and be calm. What he said doesn't matter, what you would be looking forward to should be what matters right now." She replied as she sat down on the bed with me waiting for the makeup artists and dressers to arrive.

Today is the day I am going to get married to the man of my dreams who hates me. My life has always been bright but I know for sure that my life is going to suck with him after today. He asked me to tell my dad to call off the wedding but I was clouded with a lot of positivity because I feel like this marriage is surely going to work between us, little did I know that those were just my imaginations.

Sighing softly, I pulled my legs and put my face on my knees, curling up like a ball.

'come on Gigi, you should be happy,'

As I drowned myself in self pity, I felt a hand on my shoulder, making me tense and look up. I relaxed as I saw it was my stepmom, looking at me with a smile. "Hey baby, are you alright? Is everything okay girls?" she asked me softly.

"Yes, mom, I'm fine." I said, shaking my head positively, looking at her with teary eyes. "I just don't want to go away from my family and friends. I'm so scared and at the same time excited. I have never traveled to another state, I've never even dated a guy before and now I'm getting married to a guy who lives in a whole different continent. Mom, I'm scared. I don't know what to do."

Sniffing, she sat next to me before pulling me into a hug and saying, "I know how it feels sweetie, I've been there before, and everyone on earth is definitely gonna be there too. I understand that you're nervous but you shouldn't be scared baby because you've got us, your family and your friends and trust me you can rely on your In-laws to-be because they're all excited about this marriage. So just calm down Gigi, you got this okay?"

"What if this decision is a wrong one, mom?" I asked her and she tensed in my embrace before shaking her head "No, don't say baby, I have always told you to look at the positive side of a situation and not the negative side, right?" She asked and I nodded.

"But why are you here, mom? Aren't you supposed to be welcoming the guests outside?" I asked her with a small smile, changing the topic, trying to loosen the tension.

"Oh yes, the stylists have arrived, I just came upstairs to check up on you and to see if you're ready so that I can call them in," she said in a daze.

"Okay, I have already showered, they can come in now," I mumbled.

"Okay, then." she said, nodding her head. As soon as she left, Laura stood up "Do you need anything else? I wanna go and help with the preparations in the backyard, I will have the chance to come upstairs again." 

"No Laura, I'm fine here." I mumbled. "Alright," she sighed and turned to leave.

"Laura, thank you for always being there for me." I said to her, making her stop in her tracks and look at me.

"Come on, girls. What are friends for?" She asked me with a smile before she left.

And soon after, the stylists came in and started preparing for my wedding.

**********

After what felt like eternity, the stylists and makeup artists were done doing their work on my body, face and hair. I went to the mirror and looked at my reflection.

I looked perfect just like Cinderella, carved and prepared for Adriano, my Prince Charming. My eyes sparkled like a doll's eyes.

I sat down on the bed again trying to stay calm because my heart was racing in my chest, waiting for my father to come and take me to the altar.

Then, I looked up as I heard the door open. I quickly got up from the bed and ran to my father.

"Daddy," I said sniffing and batting my eyes repeatedly in order not to ruin my makeup.

"Hey, baby. You look beautiful just like a Disney Princess." he said looking at me up and down, making me giggle.

"Dad, I'm scared. I'm going to miss you."

"Hey baby, look at me, I understand your feelings but come on sweetie you're only getting married to the wealthiest man alive. We are all celebrating your wedding and not your funeral. So stop crying and take a deep breath because there are a lot of people outside waiting for you and also don't ruin your makeup." he said, putting on a bracelet on my right hand.

"What's this?" I asked him, biting my lip. I looked at him lost for words as I continued to stare at the beautiful bracelet.

"This belongs to your biological mother Kaya, her mother gave it to her on our wedding day. She said that it's an heirloom passed down to the women in their family. So I thought you should have because if your mum were to be here, she would do the same." he told me encouragingly as he chuckled in amusement.

"Thank you, dad. Thank you for everything you've done for me and our family." I said and engulfed him in a very tight hug, but I was careful not to ruin my makeup and his shirt.

I kept trying to walk straight and casual in my fairytale wedding gown with plunging V-Neckline as we walked to the backyard. I saw Adriano in a black tuxedo looking drop dead gorgeous already waiting for me at the altar and I couldn't keep my eyes off him. That's it….. that man standing right over there just stole my heart, soul, body, mind and I won't change it for anything. When he saw me his eyes lit up and he kept looking at me as my father walked me up to him. When I got in front of him, he took my hand and nodded to my father.

My hands were trembling as I was scared of him.

Adriano's POV;

I took a deep breath as I watched her walk over to me with her hand in the father's arm.

'Damn, man. Just look at her, she's hot. She looks stunning with that perfect banging body and she probably doesn't know it. Wait a minute, Adriano, stop thinking about her and her disgusting body. You have to make her life miserable, you promised Rebecca this. She looks so innocent, so It will be easier to tame her.'

I smirked as I thought about how I will dominate and make her life hell. I held my hand out for her, which she took and stood in front of me. For the first time we both looked at each other and there's just something about her eyes that melted my heart.

I noticed that her hands were sweaty and shaky when I held her, so I squeezed her hands, demanding her with my eyes to calm down and not ruin my grandfather's big day since I was only marrying her because of him.

Sighing, she quickly looked down again. 'What is wrong with this girl?' I squeezed her hands again, telling her to look at me loudly enough for her ears to hear. Then she looked up at me smiling. 'I'm definitely getting married to a psychopath, don't get me wrong, one minute she's on the verge of crying and the other she's smiling.'

As everyone sat down, the priest began;

"Dear family and friends, we all are gathered here today in the sight of God and these witnesses to join together Adriano James Altamira and Gianna Daine Harrison and to celebrate their union in holy matrimony." He looked at me and I knew he was inquiring about the rings. I turned to David and Gianna turned to a girl who I assume is her friend. Holding the rings in our hands, the priest continued and looked at me, "Do you Adriano James Altamira take take Gianna Daine Harrison to be your lovely wedded wife to have and to hold from this day onwards for better or for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, in love and in peace until death do you apart?"

"I do," I said, trying to sound happy.

"And do you Gianna Daine Harrison take take Adriano James Altamira to be your lovely wedded husband to have and to hold from this day onwards for better or for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, in love and in peace until death do you apart?"

"I do," she smiled brightly. And the priest gestured to exchange the rings. I slid the ring onto her fingers and kissed her knuckles pretending to be happy because of my grandfather and my reputation. She took my hand afterwards and did the same. 'she thinks I like her,'  

Now let us humbly invoke God's blessing upon this bride and groom, that in his kindness he may favor with his help those on whom he has bestowed the Sacrament of Matrimony.” 

"Is there anyone that objects to this union, if so then speak now or forever hold your peace?" The priest said and everyone turned around to check if there's anyone objecting to our union. 

'I wish Rebecca would come right now and object to this stupid thing called wedding. I told this girl to tell her father to call off the wedding but she didn't. I can't wait to torture her.'

"In the sight of God and these witnesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss the bride!” he completed. And I just pecked her lips when she leaned in for the kiss.

"Our eternal Father, send your blessings upon Adriano and Gianna, whom we bless in your name, that they live faithfully together. May they keep the vows they have made, and may they remain ever in perfect love and peace together, and live according to your Word, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." The priest blessed us.

          - Reception -

Sitting down at the table, I watched her chit chat with her family, friends and my family too. I couldn't believe my sister Alanna would come to my big day with her husband, my childhood best friend.

"Welcome to your new life, Mr and Mrs Altamira," David congratulated us as he stood behind us.

"Thank you, sir." She replied smiling.

"Uhm, it's David mam. My name is David. I am Sir Adriano's secretary." He corrected her and she looked up at me.

"Thank you, David, for your wishes." She said again.

"Congratulations, son. I'm very proud of you both. Because of you today I gained a beautiful granddaughter." My grandfather made his way over to us and kissed her cheek and then hugged me.

"Thank you, grandpa." She said hugging him.

"Grazie, nonno." I fake smiles.

(Thank you, grandpa)

"Andiamo figliolo, presentala a tutti, compresi i tuoi soci in affari presenti ora."

(Come on son, introduce her to everyone including your business partners present now)

Later on, I introduced her to my business partners and friends who congratulated us for our wedding. I know she would never be able to talk with these rich people if not for me.

"Congratulations AJ," Ivor reached us with Alanna by his side.

"Congratulations brother, è molto bella." Alanna squealed happily as she hugged Gianna tightly.

(She's very beautiful)

"I'm Alanna, Adriano's younger sister. And this is my husband Ivor." 

"Hi," Ivor waved at her and she smiled and waved.

"Feel free to contact me at any time you wish, you know I don't live in Venice okay?" She said and Gianna hugged her back.

I stood next to her younger brother and watched her dance with her father and my grandfather.

She gasped as I saw the huge wedding cake. We held the knife together as we cut the cake. I was behind her, my chin resting on her head as we cut every step of the cake. 

"It's very huge," she said, feeling nervous and I chuckled.

After cutting the cake, a man came to give us a plate with a small piece of cake and two forks.

Her eyes never left mine as fed her the cake. It felt weird to feed her the cake because I felt like feeding a five year old.

Finally it was time for our flight, "Time to go to your new home, baby." Her parents said with tears in their eyes as they hugged and bid her bye. Everyone else did the same. And just before we turned to leave I grabbed her by her waist to look at me "Welcome to hell, Gianna." I whispered in her ear.

"Well, let's burn together Adriano." She said and I smirked looking at her in amusement.